Budweiser expected to stay on with Kahne

CONCORD, N.C. 
NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne said Wednesday he expects to continue his partnership with Anheuser-Busch even though the beer distributor is ending its sponsorship with the NHRA.

The St. Louis-based division of Anheuser-Busch InBev said this week it is ending its 30-year relationship with Kenny Bernstein Racing's NHRA team, and Budweiser will no longer be the official beer of that series. The brewery claimed its relationship with Bernstein is the longest in motorsports history, eclipsing STP's 28-year sponsorship of NASCAR's Richard Petty.

Kahne said he spoke with Bernstein, who won six NHRA championships, about Budweiser's decision to pull out of the series.

"It's disappointing to see Bernstein without a sponsor and I think they'll do everything they can to figure it out and get a sponsor," Kahne said. "As far as our stuff, we have another year with Budweiser and they've been great to work with.

"Hopefully we can do things to keep them happy and ... work with them for a long time."

Dan McHugh, vice president of media, sponsorship and activation for Anheuser-Busch, has no plans to pull out of NASCAR.

"Budweiser remains committed to its presence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including sponsorship of Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, as well as the (preseason) Budweiser Shootout," McHugh said in a statement.